Hand flashlight having improved means for mounting the light bulb



Aug. 18, 1953 H OORE 2,649,534

A. M 4 HAND FLASHLIGHT HAVING IMPROVED MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE LIGHT BULB Original Filed March 9, 1946 ZSnvenfor m Q ttornegs Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND FLASHLIGHT HAVING IMPROVED MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE LIGHT BULB Connecticut Original application March 9, 1946, Serial No. 653,339. Divided and this application February 24, 1950, Serial No. 145,984

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a flash. light, more particularly to the smaller type flashlights which are adapted to be carried in the pocket like a fountain pen and knownas pen lights, but it is of course not limited to this type of flash light.

It hasv for an object. to provide an improved mounting for mounting the light bulb so that a solid support, for the bulb is provided, with no springs,v and good electrical contact is always maintained.

'With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention,

This application is a division of my prior Patent No. 2,503,287.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a pen light on an enlarged scale showing my improved construction and arrangement;

Fig. 2, is a transverse section substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing the switch in the oil position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the switch in the on position.

Fig. 4 is a view looking at thelower end of the casing. with the inner switch body in position, but with the outer operating knob. removed, and

Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the improved bulb holder.

The construction shown comprises a tubular metal body or casing I!) open atits opposite ends and provided with screw threads rolled in it at one end, asindicated at l l. Mounted in this threaded end is the improved bulb holder l 2 comprising. a metal. sleeve, including two portions l3 and M of difierent diameters connected by an intermediate transverse inwardly extending wall or shoulder l5, and there maybe a short cylindrical portion l6 below this shoulder on the larger portion l4. between the screw threads and the wall l5, which is of substantially the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the body l0, so that when this holder is mounted in the body they form a continuous outer surface. The larger portion M is provided with screw threads to fit within the threads ll of the body. The smaller portion l3 is also provided with screw threads to receive the threaded metal shell contact I! of the lamp bulb It, in such position that the central lamp contact [9 may engage the central contact 2!] of the battery 2|. This battery includes the usual paper or cardboard cover Zia for insulating it from the casing. or body it). The bulb may also be enclosed by a plastic lens 22 made of any suitable material, preferably of molded plastic of transparent, semietransparent, translucent or opaque material, as desired, which forms a protection for the lamp bulb. At its larger end it is of the same diameter as the body l0 and the outer surface is preferably curved upwardly and inwardly from this larger end to substantially blend into the curvature of the end of the light bulb to provide a continuous outer surface which will not catch on other objects, will protect the lamp bulb and will give an attractive appearance. This lens is provided with screw threads 23 at the inner side of the larger end portion to thread onto the'outer side of the smaller portion l3 of the bulb holder.

It will be apparent from this mounting of the bulb that the screw shell contact I! of the lamp bulb is grounded on the metal body Ill, and also that this holder provides a solid support for the lamp bulb and maintains good. electrical contact, both on the shell contact H and the central contact IS with the battery contact 20, and that no springs are required in mounting it, which are apt to be displaced when assembled, and permit the lamp bulb to get out of position so that good electrical contact is not always assured, either with the battery contact or to the bulb shell. contact.

The switch control for the lamp bulb is mounted at the opposite end of the body In, and in this arrangement there are no projecting switch or other elements on the side of the body. In this switch construction the end portion of the body Ill is. reduced in diameter, as indicated at 24, forming an inwardly directed shoulder 25 spaced the desired distance from the end of the body. Mounted within the body In is a switch body 26 of molded insulating plastic material which has projecting from its outer or lower side a substantially cylindrical sleeve-like portion 2'! which telescopes with the reduced portion 24 of the metal body it. In the opposite sides of this sleeve-like portion 2,! is formed a pair of longttudinal slots 28 through the portion, and the reduced portion 2% of the metal body is provided with a pair of inwardly directed longitudinal beads 29 which extend into the slots 28 and are seated therein, These beads cooperating with the sides of the slots hold the switch body 26 against turning in the metal body, and also the beads 29 form stationary switch contacts which cooperate with the movable switch contact 30.

This movable switch contact 39 is mounted in a recess 3! extending laterally through the side of a cylindrical boss 32 on the inner side of a molded plastic insulating switch knob 33, and this contact as has a rounded outer end running on the inner surface 34 of the cylindrical portion 2? of the insulating switch body 26.

Back of 30 is a spring 36 tending to force 30 26 and 33 together and also mounts spring 40" which holds the center contact of battery 21 in engagement with lamp contact I9 and alsoforms electrical connection from lower end of battery shell 44 to rivet 31 and through contact to shell I!) when knob 33 is turned to bring contact 311 into engagement with either head 29.

of reduced portion 2d of the metal body or shell I0, and preferably is of an outer diameter substantially equal to that of shell In to form a continuous surface therewith, and the knob may be provided with ribs 39 to give a better grip for turning the knob.

It will be seen from the above that there are no projections on the outer surface of this flash light, and that it is of extremely simple construction. The single riveting over of the inner end 4| of the rivet 31 assembles and connects all the switch parts, including the battery grounding spring 40, in this one operation. It will also be seen that the switch operating hand knob 33 may be operated equally well in either direction to open or close the switch, and that with this construction and arrangement portions of the enclosing metal body or casing Ii] are used as the stationary contacts of the switch.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

1. A flash light comprising a tubular body adapted to enclose a battery and provided with a screw thread at one end, a bulb holder comprising a thin metal sleeve of substantially uniform thickness throughout and formed of two threated portions of different diameters connected by an intermediate annular wall, said threaded portions extending in opposite directions from said wall, the larger portion being screwed to said threaded end of the body, the threads of the smaller portion being formed on both the inner and outer sides thereof, a lamp bulb including a threaded shell contact screwed into the inner threads of said smaller portion and provided with a central contact for engaging the central contact of a battery in the body, a hollow lens enclosing the lamp bulb and provided with internal screw threads threaded onto the outer threads of said smaller portion with the inner end of said lens seated against the annular wall, and means for controlling the circuit through the bulb.

2. A flash light comprising a tubular metal body adapted to enclose a battery and provided with a screw thread at one end, a bulb holder comprising a thin metal sleeve of substantially uniform thickness throughout including two threaded portions of different diameters connected by an intermediate annular Wall and extending in opposite directions from said wall, the larger portion being screwed to said threaded end of the body, the threads of the smaller portion being formed on both the inner and outer sides thereof, a lamp bulb including a threaded shell contact screwed into the inner threads of said smaller portion with the glass bulb projecting from the open end of the holder and provided with a central contact for engaging the central battery contact, a hollow lens provided with internal screw threads threaded onto the outer threads of said smaller portion provided with a shoulder at its inner end seated against said annular wall and provided with an opening enclosing theglass bulb, and means for controlling the circuit through the bulb.

3. A flash light comprising a tubular body adapted to enclose a battery and provided with a screw thread at one end, a bulb holder comprising a sleeve of thin metal of substantially uniform thickness throughout including two tubular portions of two different diameters connected by an intermediate annular wall having an outer diameter substantially that of the body, said tubular portions extending in opposite directions from said wall, the larger portion of said sleeve being screwed into the threaded end of said body, the threads of the smaller portion being formed on both the inner and outer sides thereof, a lamp bulb including a threaded shell contact screwed into the inner threads of said smaller portion with the glass bulb projecting from the open end of the holder a hollow lens of plastic material provided with internal screw threads screwed onto the outer threads of said smaller portion of the holder with its inner end seated against said annular wall, and said lens being substantially the diameter of the body at its larger end so as to form a substantial continuation thereof and tapered and convexly curved to a smaller outer end provided with an opening to receive the end of the bulb.

4. A flash light comprising a tubular body adapted to enclose a battery and provided with a screw thread at one end, a bulb holdercomprising a sleeve of thin metal of substantially uniform thickness throughout and including tubular portions of two difierent diameters connected by an intermediate annular wall and extending in opposite directions from said wall, said larger portion of the sleeve also including a cylindrical portion substantially the same diameter as the body and located between said annular wall and the threads on the larger portion, the larger portion of said sleeve being screwed into the threaded end of said body with its cylindrical portion against said end to form a continuation of the body, the threads of the smaller portion being formed on both the inner and outer sides thereof, a lamp bulb including a threaded shell contact screwed into the inner threads of said smaller portion with the glass bulb projecting from the open end of the holder, and a hollow tapered lens provided with internal screw threads screwed onto the outer threads of said smaller portion of the holder to enclose the lamp bulb with its inner end seated against said annular wall, the inner end of said lens being of substantially the diameter of said cylindrical portion of the holder to form a continuation of said portion and the body.

ARTHUR H. MOORE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

